Fall 2009 Message from the Dean
Profile of Entering A&S Graduate Students
We've welcomed an impressive group of 120 new A&S graduate students in ten programs. Approximately 75% of the entering graduate students conducted research as undergraduates, with half receiving awards or Honors for their research. More than half of the entering students have served as teachers or mentors, working with students from pre-school through senior citizen. More than 20% of the entering students have earned a Master's degree or JD, and 25% are international students from eleven countries. This year's talented group of incoming graduate students includes a Peace Corps worker in Nigeria, a certified whitewater rafting guide, a vocalist in a jazz ensemble, and a licensed helicopter and multi-engine airplane pilot.
Recruitment Fellowships Funded by A&S Graduate Studies Advisory Board
The Graduate Studies Advisory Board, formed in 2004, is a select group of educational, business, and community leaders whose mission is to enhance the quality of graduate education in Arts & Sciences at W&M. Eight current A&S graduate students have received recruitment fellowships supported in part by contributions from members of the A&S Graduate Studies Advisory Board. These stipend supplements of $2500-$3500 for each of two years are offered to exceptional prospective students who represent extraordinary recruitment opportunities. Applicants to the College of W&M are nominated for the fellowships by departments/programs. The current recipients of these recruitment fellowships are in American Studies, Anthropology, Chemistry, Computational Operations Research, Computer Science, History, Physics, and the PsyD program.
2008-09 A&S Distinguished Thesis and Distinguished Dissertation Awardees
Five 2008-09 W&M graduates received A&S Graduate Studies Advisory Board Distinguished Thesis and Distinguished Dissertation Awards, which recognize exemplary achievement in A&S graduate student research: Gillian P. Freeman (Psychology), Amy C. Green (History), Carolee Klimchock (American Studies), Karl W. Kuschner (Physics), and Jennifer B. Oast (History). Nominations are submitted by the students' faculty advisors in April, and an A&S faculty panel selects the award recipients.
A&S Graduate Portfolio Website Initiated
The A&S Graduate Student Association (GSA) and I have initiated a Graduate Portfolio website to highlight the quality of A&S graduate programs by compiling and disseminating information on the accomplishments of A&S graduate students, including external awards, conference presentations and publications, and recent alumni employment/positions. GSA representatives are collecting information on graduate student achievements in their respective departments/programs. Three times per year, these updated entries provided by A&S graduate students will be posted by my office to the website currently under construction.
Applications Encouraged for A&S Graduate Student Research Grants
A stable program for minor research grant support was initiated by the A&S Office of Graduate Studies and Research in 2006 and is funded using continuous enrollment fees. A&S graduate students are eligible to apply for support [maximum of $300] that will allow them to collect data at museums or archives, purchase research supplies, and travel to field work sites. In 2008-09, 41 students received A&S Graduate Student Research Grants, with an average award of $288. Applications are accepted each term.
Graduate Research Fellowships Received from VA Space Grant Consortium
Congratulations to Malcom Gethers (Computational Operations Research), Ruth Lamprecht (Computer Science), Corey Miller (Applied Science), and Matthew Simons (Physics), for receiving 2009-10 Graduate Research Fellowships from the Virginia Space Grant Consortium. These $5000 awards are renewable for one additional year. Crystal Bertoncini (Physics), Jennifer Camp (Anthropology), Cara Campbell (Physics), John Leckey (Physics), and Meghan Revelle (Computer Science) have received renewal awards for 2009-10. In addition, a W&M undergraduate student, Tyler Stukenbroeker (Chemistry) received a $4000 Undergraduate Research Scholarship for 2009-10. I have served on or chaired the consortiums' selection committee for the past four years; please feel free to contact me with questions or encourage your students to do so.
Welcome to Our Web Pages
Whether you have already joined the William & Mary community or are a prospective student, we invite you to browse our web pages as you take this next exciting step into the future.
Best wishes for continued success,
S. Laurie Sanderson
Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
